CO2 emissions decreased in 2022 in the European Union and increased in Spain

European Union (EU) CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels for energy use fell by 2.8% in 2022 compared to 2021, but increased by 3.5% in Spain, according to a first estimate published today by Eurostat.

Emissions from the combustion of solid fossil fuels such as coal or oil shale have increased by an average of 3 percentage points in the EU, while those from oil and its derivatives have risen by one point and those from natural gas have fallen by 13 percentage points, the community has specified statistics desk.

The combined volume was almost 2.4 gigatons, Eurostat added in a statement, recalling that CO2 emissions from energy use “are a major contributor to global warming and represent about 75% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions in the EU”. .

Hydrocarbon-related emissions fell in 17 of the 27 EU Member States, with the Netherlands leading the way (12.8%), followed by Luxembourg (12%), Belgium (9.7%) and Hungary (8%).

The calculation is attributed to the country that burns fossil fuels so that in case of using gas to produce electricity it leads to an increase in values ​​while importing electricity has no influence as it is reported in the country where it was generated. , the statistical office has indicated.

Eurostat has specified that “a more in-depth analysis” is needed to take into account “all imports and exports of various primary and derived energy products, commodities with integrated emissions (such as iron and steel), as well as, in the case of transport, fuel tourism” .

The statistics office has also indicated that Germany alone is responsible for a quarter of the total CO2 emissions in the EU from the combustion of fossil fuels for energy use, while Italy and Poland account for 12.4% each and France 10.7%.